What Is the Plural of Crisis?
The plural of crisis is crises. This follows the rule for many English nouns that end in -is, where the ending changes to -es in the plural form. So one crisis becomes two crises. This is not a regular plural like adding -s or -es; it is an irregular plural borrowed from Greek, and it is important to use the correct spelling in both formal and informal writing.
Quick Answer
Crisis (singular) → Crises (plural). Pronounced KRY-sis (singular) and KRY-seez (plural). Use crises when referring to more than one crisis.
Why the Plural Is Not “Crisis” or “Crisises”
Many learners make the mistake of writing crisises or keeping crisis for multiple events. The correct form crises comes from the word’s origin in Greek, where nouns ending in -is change to -es in the plural. Other common examples include thesis (theses), hypothesis (hypotheses), and analysis (analyses).
In everyday conversation, you might hear someone say “we have multiple crisis,” but this is grammatically incorrect. In careful writing, especially in emails, reports, or academic work, you must use crises.
Comparison Table: Crisis vs. Crises
| Form | Number | Example Sentence | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crisis | Singular | The company faced a financial crisis last year. | One event or situation |
| Crises | Plural | The government responded to multiple economic crises. | Two or more events |
| Crisis (incorrect plural) | Plural (wrong) | We are dealing with several crisis right now. | Informal, but not standard |
| Crisises (incorrect) | Plural (wrong) | The team handled all the crisises well. | Common learner error |
Natural Examples
Here are real-world examples showing how crisis and crises are used in different situations.
Formal Writing (Reports, Academic Papers, News)
- The study examined how nations recover from public health crises.
- Each crisis requires a unique response from leadership.
- Climate change has created overlapping environmental crises.
Informal Writing (Emails, Messages, Conversations)
- I can’t handle another crisis today — we already had two crises this week.
- Let’s talk about the crisis in the morning. We can deal with the other crises later.
- She always stays calm during a crisis, even when there are multiple crises at once.
Email Context
- Subject: Update on current crisis
Body: “We are monitoring the situation. If other crises arise, I will inform the team immediately.” - Subject: Lessons from past crises
Body: “Attached is a report on how we handled previous crises. Please review before our meeting.”
Common Mistakes
Learners often make these errors. Avoid them by remembering the -is to -es change.
- Mistake: “There are many crisis in the world.”
Correct: “There are many crises in the world.” - Mistake: “We faced several crisises this year.”
Correct: “We faced several crises this year.” - Mistake: “The crisis are getting worse.” (using singular verb with plural meaning)
Correct: “The crises are getting worse.” - Mistake: “One crisis, two crisis.” (not changing form)
Correct: “One crisis, two crises.”
Better Alternatives and When to Use Them
Sometimes you may want to avoid repeating crisis or crises. Here are alternatives that work in different tones.
| Word/Phrase | When to Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency | Immediate, urgent situations; more common in everyday speech | We have a medical emergency, not just a crisis. |
| Disaster | Large-scale, destructive events; stronger than crisis | The flood was a natural disaster, causing multiple crises. |
| Problem | Less formal, general difficulty; good for casual conversation | We have a small problem, not a full crisis. |
| Challenge | Positive or neutral tone; common in business or personal growth | This is a challenge we can overcome, not a crisis. |
| Predicament | Formal or literary; describes a difficult situation | He found himself in a predicament, though not a true crisis. |
Use crisis or crises when the situation is serious, urgent, or turning point. For less intense situations, choose a milder word like problem or challenge.
Nuance: Formal vs. Informal Tone
In formal writing (reports, academic papers, official emails), always use crises for the plural. In informal conversation, some native speakers might say “multiple crisis” as a shortcut, but this is not considered correct in careful English. If you are writing for work, school, or any professional context, stick to crises.
Also note the pronunciation difference: crisis ends with a short iss sound, while crises ends with a long eez sound. This helps listeners know whether you mean one or many.
Mini Practice: Test Yourself
Choose the correct word (crisis or crises) for each sentence. Answers are below.
- The country is facing an economic _______.
- We have survived many _______ in the past decade.
- Each _______ teaches us something new.
- How do you stay calm during multiple _______?
Answers
- crisis
- crises
- crisis
- crises
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is “crises” the only correct plural of “crisis”?
Yes. Crises is the standard plural in English. There is no other accepted form.
2. How do you pronounce “crises”?
It is pronounced KRY-seez (two syllables). The singular crisis is KRY-sis.
3. Can I use “crisis” as a plural in informal writing?
Some people do in very casual speech or text messages, but it is not grammatically correct. For any formal or professional writing, always use crises.
4. What other words follow the same pattern?
Many words ending in -is change to -es in the plural. Examples: thesis → theses, hypothesis → hypotheses, analysis → analyses, diagnosis → diagnoses, parenthesis → parentheses.
Final Tip
When you write about more than one crisis, remember the simple change: crisis becomes crises. Practice by writing a few sentences today, and soon it will feel natural. For more help with similar plural forms, visit our Common Plural Forms section. If you have questions, check our FAQ or contact us.
